Chapter 167 Finding fault? You Yuan Shu are still young!
"Huh?"
Liu Bian frowned slightly and couldn't help but wonder: "Teacher, what's going on with Xu Rong's cavalry? Did they come over to play? They just walked around and left, thinking they were playing house?"
"Master Bian doesn't understand."
The voice of the Military Advisor Alliance immediately sounded: "Ancient military experts said that this was a tentative attack by the opponent's cavalry and a sign of caution by the opponent's cavalry, which is very commendable."
"And judging from the direction the opponent chooses to attack, it is indeed a relatively vulnerable point in the military formation, which is enough to prove that the commander of this cavalry has certain military qualities."
"The elite soldiers of the Han Dynasty's Northern Army are indeed stronger than experts expected, and their overall quality is better, but they are by no means comparable to ordinary soldiers and horses."
"If I have to make an evaluation, the soldiers and horses under Bianye's command are C-level, the Luyang Allied Forces are E-level, and the elite of the Northern Army can definitely be called S-level, or even SS-level."
Liu Bian looked in disbelief: "This...how is this possible? My soldiers and horses are so weak that experts can only rate them as C-level?"
The Alliance of Military Advisors replied: "Experts' evaluation of an army depends not only on its commander-in-chief, but also on its training level, military discipline, soldiers' physical fitness, actual combat experience, weapons and equipment, and other aspects."
"The leader of Bianye's team is still good, and he has an absolute advantage in terms of military structure. However, the team is too messy, the soldiers are in poor health, the training level is uneven, and the actual combat experience is not rich enough."
"certainly!"
In the end, the Military Advisor Alliance emphasized: "The most important thing is that the army's equipment level is too poor and cannot be compared with the Northern Army at all. It is more objective to give such a team a C-level evaluation."
Well......
All right.
There is a long way to go.
Liu Bian calmly accepted the expert's evaluation: "Level C will be level C. When it is completely stabilized, we will make targeted improvements. I believe the experts will have a solution."
"Um."
The Military Advisor Alliance simply responded: "Experts are already formulating a plan. We will first draw up the general framework, and then make fine adjustments based on the situation and the military situation."
"Master Bian, don't worry about this, just leave it to the experts."
"We still focus on the battlefield."
The Military Advisor Alliance immediately changed the topic and continued: "The failure of Yuan and Yuan's offensive may not last long. In addition, Xu Rong's command level exceeds expectations, and the development of the matter may deviate from experts' predictions."
"But don't worry, Mr. Bian. Military experts are already devising remedial strategies. If the situation develops to that extent, we will have ways to deal with it."
"The key is Mr. Ben, you..."
The Military Advisor Alliance once again emphasized: "We must withstand the pressure from all parties, especially the pressure from the Yuan family's disciples and former officials, and buy a certain amount of time for the experts."
Think about it carefully.
Yuan Shu's strategy of slacking off will always be implemented.
He has already withstood a round of attacks, and he will definitely use this as an excuse to delay time, or even deliberately find trouble with himself to provoke conflicts between Yuan's disciples and former officials and himself.
Xu Rong's defensive strategy was very appropriate. Even after Er Yuan's consumption, the actual damage would not be too great. At best, it was just arrows, rocks, rolling logs, kerosene and other defensive equipment.
If Yuan Shu's authority is shaken prematurely and he is even forced to make adjustments in military strength, it is very likely that due to this, the attack on Guangcheng Pass will fail, or even Xu Rong will cooperate with others and be defeated outside the city.
Liu Bian understood this clearly: "Experts, rest assured that I will not easily adjust the defense strategy of the military formation. This is the prerequisite for our invincibility."
"Um."
The Military Advisor Alliance was very satisfied: "You must resist! The difficulty of this strategy is that Xu Rong cannot see any flaws in the adjusted formation. After all, the formation is right under his nose, and the opponent is proficient in the art of war."
Even the cavalry generals under Xu Rong's command were able to attack tentatively and did not dare to act rashly. Xu Rong's calmness and composure were naturally not to mention. A slight adjustment in the military formation would not escape his eyes.
Since the military-strategist alliance wants to adjust its strategy, there will naturally be corresponding strategies included in it. If Xu Rong really sees the clues and tries to make a plan, it is still unclear who will win and who will lose.
Um!
Must resist!
Liu Bian took a deep breath and warned himself secretly.
A day of fierce fighting.
Guangcheng Pass is still as stable as Mount Tai.
But the dusk was getting darker, and Liu Bian had no choice but to withdraw his troops with gold.
As expected.
Not long after the army returned to the camp.
Yuan Shu led all the princes to the central army's tent.
Liu Bian put down the military book in his hand and glanced at everyone coldly: "What do you want to do? The lonely king has never beaten the drum to gather the generals."
Yuan Shu was the first to attack and came out angrily: "Your Highness, today's fierce battle at Guangcheng Pass failed, but I don't know what arrangements will be made for tomorrow?"
Liu Bian had already expected that the other party would be like this, so he did not hesitate and said directly: "As today, you will continue to attack Guangcheng Pass. The lonely king will beware of the Liang County cavalry."
"I......"
If Yuan Zhong hadn't dragged Yuan Shu by force, Yuan Shu might have really exploded.
At this moment, Yuan Shu suppressed his anger and said again: "Your Highness, after returning to the camp today, the general will count the battle damage. Close to half of the soldiers and horses were killed or injured. If we continue to fight fiercely, all the soldiers and horses in our hands will be destroyed."
"So and so..."
Yuan Shu let out a gloomy breath, flicked his long sleeves, his eyes widened in anger, a look of sullenness appeared on his face, and he did not hide it: "I'm afraid it's not good."
Then Yuan Zhong, the Prime Minister of Pei State, echoed: "That's right! Attacking Guangcheng Pass is definitely not my Yuan family's business, but a matter of all the allied princes. Why is it that only my Yuan family is ordered to attack by force, while His Highness stands behind to watch the battle?"
?”
"this......"
Yuan Zhong scolded and asked: "Isn't it unfair? As the commander-in-chief of the South Road, His Highness should treat everyone equally. How can he treat my Yuan family differently and suppress my Yuan family with the help of Xu Rong?"
The two Yuans took the lead in launching an attack, and the Yuan family's disciples and old officials naturally followed.
Chen Yi, the Prime Minister of the State of Lu, stepped forward and cupped his hands: "Your Highness, although Mr. Yuan is here in Luoyang, attacking Guangcheng Pass is a major event for our army and should not be shouldered by the Yuan family alone."
"That's right!"
Xu Qiu, the prefect of Runan, stood up again and said, "What Chancellor Chen said is right. Zichun and Zichun have tried their best on the highway today. If it continues like this tomorrow, I'm afraid the soldiers will be angry and complain. If this continues for a long time, there will be a mutiny."
The gain outweighs the loss.”
Ouch.
They even staged a mutiny, who are you trying to scare?
Do you really think I can't see the mess in your stomach?
Of course, even if Liu Bian knew it in his heart, he still wouldn't show it at all on his face.
He just glanced at everyone calmly and asked calmly: "What do you want to do? Is there a better way? You can suggest it. Gu is definitely not an unreasonable person."
Yuan Shu waved his hand and said loudly: "It's very simple! Your Highness will be responsible for the main attack on the city tomorrow. As for the rear military formation, I, Yuan Shu, can completely do it for me."
"oh?"
Liu Bian looked at Yuan Shu and said calmly: "Since General Yuan is so capable, I will ask the general two questions. If the general can answer them, the formation of the rear army will be under the command of the general. How about it?"
Yuan Shu came with great momentum.
I thought I would never agree to the exchange, but I never thought that the other party would respond in this way.
Even the annoyed Yuan Shu subconsciously extinguished his anger and just frowned and shouted: "Humph, I have been familiar with military books since I was a child, am I still afraid that you will ask?"
Liu Bian smiled lightly, disdaining to pay attention, and then turned to look at the disciples and former officials of the Yuan family, and said softly: "If you all know, you can also answer. As long as anyone understands, I can give up my position in the rear military formation."
All the disciples and old officials of the Yuan family were shocked.
They seemed unable to believe that King Hongnong dared to underestimate them so much.
Extremely arrogant!
It’s really arrogant!
Xu Qiu, the governor of Runan, was the son of the general who conquered the Liao Dynasty. He had been familiar with military books since he was a child.
The most important thing is that he also participated in the war against the Yellow Turbans. His understanding of the art of war is definitely regarded as the best among the disciples and former officials of the Yuan family.
Now, Liu Bian actually despises them in the field he is best at.
It is tolerable, but what is intolerable!
Xu Xuan's eyes were piercing, and he suppressed his anger: "Your Highness, please give me some advice."
Although Yuan Shu's attack was menacing this time, it was the first time after all. While the other party could still be reasonable, Liu Bian naturally had to send them back with good reason, otherwise it would be more difficult to deal with him in the future.
"Don't worry."
Liu Bian let out a long sigh, stood up, came to the tent, and said, "Wen Ruo, bring out our formation map."
Xun Yu had already prepared: "Nuo."
Immediately.
Serve it directly and spread it flat on the ground.
Liu Bian pointed to the formation map, glanced at the princes, and said loudly: "According to the intelligence, Xu Rong's cavalry in Liang County is no less than 3,000, which is far better than our army's 500 cavalry."
"There is a huge gap between the two sides in terms of cavalry strength. Therefore, in this battle, we must focus on infantry and coordinate with various equipment to guard against enemy cavalry sneak attacks on our rear."
"Gu's first problem is..."
Liu Bian took a deep breath and said with great solemnity: "How many types of infantry-carriage coordination tactics are integrated into this formation? What are they and what are their characteristics?"
The tactics of infantry and chariot coordination were basically formed in the Song Dynasty. Although before that, all dynasties had always involved it to a greater or lesser extent, but there was no systematic tactics, and most of them relied on formations to defeat the enemy.
For issues like this that transcend the times, even Xu Qiu, who is familiar with military literature, may not be able to summarize them all. Even if he can tell some of the tactics, he may not be able to describe them well.
Sure enough!
As soon as Liu Bian finished speaking, the eyes of the disciples and former officials of the Yuan family all focused on Xu Qiu, their eyes full of desire and expectation for the answer.
but......
Xu Qiu frowned, his eyes fell on the formation diagram for a long time, but he still did not give an answer, and even tried vaguely: "There should be five kinds..."
His voice was very long, and the confusion in his eyes almost made Liu Bian laugh.
Liu Bian just had the tendency to shake his head when he was interrupted by Xu Xuan himself: "There should be at least five kinds. Let me touch them carefully. Is it okay?"
Liu Bian smiled and waved his hand: "Don't worry, you can think slowly. I will give you a quarter of an hour. After you think about it, I will answer it later."
Immediately.
Liu Bian turned back to his desk, held up the military book again, and read it to himself, as if he didn't take the disciples and former officials of the Yuan family seriously in the tent at all.
Xun Yu, who was standing aside, snickered. His Highness's move was really amazing. He could silence Yuan's disciples and former officials without making a move.
Since you don't understand the art of warfare, why should you entrust the military formation to defend it?
It doesn’t make sense!
War is an organic whole.
Each army must perform its own duties in order for it to truly exert its due effect. Otherwise, if one link goes wrong, it will surely affect the three armies and cause endless disasters.
Tick tock!
Tick tock!
...
Time passes minute by minute.
Although Xu Qiu devoted himself wholeheartedly to the formation diagram, this formation diagram and the military strategy in his mind were two completely different forms of expression. Although Xu Qiu had a foundation in the art of war, it still took some time to become familiar with it.
Coupled with this vehicle-coordinated combat method, it was originally something that transcended its time!
In the battle of the Han Dynasty against the Xiongnu, Huo Qubing was more likely to use cavalry to control cavalry, adhering to the idea of mutual attack "the enemy can go and I can go", and emphasized cavalry tactics such as movement, breakthroughs, and frontal assaults.
Fight enemies on a vast battlefield.
In particular, General Du Liao of the Eastern Han Dynasty was an important structure for maintaining the northern part of the Eastern Han Dynasty, including the northeastern and northwest border defenses, and handling the government affairs of the northern ethnic groups. The people Xu Shu dealt with on a daily basis were the Wuhuan, Xianbei, and Qianghu.
As a descendant of Xu Shu, Xu Xuan's thinking about cavalry combat methods was deeply influenced by his father, so he naturally fell into a certain fixed thinking pattern, which limited his ability to accept new things.
Yuan Shu waited a little impatiently and added fuel to the fire: "Brother Meng Yu, is there no result yet? You are the son of Xu Shu, the general of Liao Dynasty. If you can't answer, won't you lose your father's face?"
Yuan Shu had been arrogant since he was a child. Not to mention outsiders, even his brother Yuan Shao was just a domestic slave to a maidservant. Now when he was anxious, he dragged Xu Xuan's father into it. It was like a sharp sword, stabbing him.
In Xu Xuan's heart.
Xu Qiu had no idea at all. When Yuan Shu said this, anger surged into his throat: "I am indeed ashamed of my father's teachings. I think the general has been familiar with military books since he was a child, so he must know this step of coordinated warfare with vehicles."
Only then did Yuan Shu realize that he had said the wrong thing.
But how could the arrogant Yuan Shu admit his mistake?
His expression suddenly changed, and he was very unhappy with an unscrupulous guy like Xu Qiu.
Fortunately, Prime Minister Pei Guo next to him said in time: "Brother Meng Yu, the road is also impatient. Don't be surprised. A quarter of an hour is about to pass. If you see the tactics, don't hide it."
Chen Yi, the Prime Minister of the State of Lu, also echoed: "Yes, Meng Yu, calm down the fire. Don't take offense. This statement is definitely not the intention of the highway. Let's hurry up and find a strategy for this step of car coordination. How about it?"
...
Although Yuan Shu was reluctant, he still had to bite the bullet and bowed his head: "Brother Meng Yu, I made a mistake in my words. I hope you will forgive me if you offend me."
Only then did Xu Qiu take a deep breath and bowed his head to Liu Bian and saluted: "Your Highness's formation diagram is indeed exquisite. Xu learned a lot from it, so Xu boldly made a guess. If there are any mistakes, please contact Your Highness."